^iil  ECGi;S     ^ 


tihxavy  of  t:he  t:heolo0ical  Seminary 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


•d^D* 


5CC 

;i36 


AN 

O     R      A      T      I     O     N, 

In     mem  O,/ R  Y.    o  f 

•  ^/ 
General     MONTGOMERY, 

A  N  D     O  F    T  H  E       ' 
OFFICERS     AND     SOLDIERS, 
Who  fell  with  HIM,  December  31,    1775, 

BEFORE' 

Q^       U         E         BE         C; 

Drawn  up  (and  delivered  February  igth,    i77^>) 

At     tke     DESiREoF     the 

Honorable     CONTINENTAL   CONGRESS, 

""by W  Tl  L  1AM  "^S  M  I  T  HTaa 

Provoft  of  the  COLLEGE  and  A  C  A  D  E  M  Y 
Of     PHILADELPHIA, 


O  thou,  who  bad'ft  them  fall  with  honor  cro^vn'd. 
Soon  m  ake  the  bloody  pride  of  war  to  ccafe  ! 
May  thefe  the  only  facrihce  be  found 
I'o  public  freedom,  and  their  country's  peace. 


PHILADELPHIA     Printed : 

NEWTORK:    Reprinted  by   John  Andersoi:?,   the 

Corner  of  Beekman*s-Slip, 

M,  D  c  c,  L  X  X  V  r. 


'  A    N 

ORATION     Sec: 

Fathers^  Brethren,  and  Ceunirynienl 

AN  occafion  truly  folema  has  affembled  us 
this  day  ;  aud,  that  your  attention  may  be 
i  D'ace  ."'^^^/°'^™"  ^"d  ferioos,  hear.  i„  thefirft 
I    P-ace,  the  voice  of  eternal  truth.     «  It  is  better  to 

"    «  S?  ?;  ;  "°"  f  1  ^'^°"^"'"S  than  to  the  HouS 

nimlelt,  and  no  man  dieth  to  himfelf  •" 

r-rr^^v.^^"  -^"""n""'"'  "'"'^^"^ted  v^ithapu- 
r.r  ray  of  divinity  5  Patriots  ofthefirft  magnitude 
who,  in  a  peculiar  fenfe.  may  be  faid   to  live  and 
die,  not  tojhemfelves,  but  to  others;  and  confe 
qjentiy  to  him  who  is  the  author  of  all  good^cfr 
Endowed  with  that  iuperior  excellence  which  do  s 

nat"on  d"  °"l-^^°'fP^.r'  '^'  ^'^^"°"«  °f  every 
nation  clarm  kindred  with  them  ;  and  the  general 
^^ntercfts  of  humanity  are  concerned  in  their  fhaS, 

In  veneration  of  fuch  men,  toexchane-  the  ac 
cuftomed    walks    of  pleafure    for   the  Houfe    of 

efSS;  T  5r'^"  '"  '''^'''  ^^-^-  -i'h  teal 
to?  tc  r  ^°^h^^'-.'^=™°^y;  to  ftrive,if  p6ffibIe.^ 
to  etch  fome  portion  of  their  eternal  fpirit    as    't 

feht."::"  ;^j? -''^l^Phere,  into  perUunioa 
l^-ta  consenul  foints  a^ye,  is  a  laudable  cuftom. 


cosvai 


ccEvalwith  fociety,  and  fanftified  to  us  by  the  ex- 
ample of  the  wiftft  nationf . 

It  was  the  manner  of  the  Egyptians,  tiic  fathers 
of  arts  and  fcience,  not  only  .to  celebrate  the  namcs^ 
but  to  embalm  the  bodies,  of  their  dcceafed  he- 
roe"  that  they  might  be  long  preterved  in  public 
vievJ.'as  examples  of  virtue  j  and/although  -  dead, 

vet  fpeaking."  ,    . 

But  this  honour  was  not  eafiiy  to  be  obtained  •, 
nor  was  it  beftowed  indifcrimmately  upon  the  vul- 
gar Great.  It  was  decreed  only  by  the  public 
voice,  a  venerable  affcmbly  of  Judges,  htfcxc 
whom  the  body  of  the  deceafed  was  brought  foe 
trial,  and  folemnly  acquitted  or  condemned  upon. 
the  evidence  of  the  people,  ,    -       j 

Even  Kings   themfelves,   however  much  ipare* 
when  alive,  for  the  fake  of  public  tranquility,  had 
Rill  this  more  than  fiery  Ordeal  before  their  eyes ; 
and    by  the  example  of  fcme  of  their  immtjer,  who> 
had  been   rcfufed  fcpulture   in  thofe   very  tombs 
which  their  pride  had  prepared  to  their  own  mc^ 
morv,  were  taught  both  to  venerate  and  to  dreaa 
a  law,  which  extended  its  punifhments  beyond  ihc 
iifual  times  of  oblivion. 

The  moral  of  this  inftitution  was  truly  lublime,, 
conftantly  inculcating  a  moft  important  leffon— 
-'  That  whatever  diliinaions  our  wantb  and  vices 
Biay  render  neccffary,  in  this  fhort  and  wiperfca: 
>.eriod  of  our  being,  they  are  all  cancelled  by  the 
hand  of  death  y  and,  through  the  endlcfs  untried 
periods  which  fuccecd,  virtue  and  beneficence  will 
make  the  true  diftindions,  and  be  the  only  founda- 
tions of  happinefs  and  renpwi>5 


f  m 

If  from  tj>s  Egyptians,  we  pafs  to  the  Greefo, 
poirticul^ly    the  enlightened   Aihemars,  we  flu  I 
find  tbattfeey  had  ^n  exprefs  law    appointing  Ora- 
tionf    and    public  Funerals,  in   honour   ot  thole 
who'glorioufly  facrificed  their  lives  to  their  coun- 
trv      Aud  this  folemn  office  was  performed  before 
the  great  afTembiics  of  the  people  ;  lonnetimes  for 
one,  and  temetimes  for  bands  of  heroes  together. 
Thucydidep,  has  recorded  a  celeWated  Oration 
of  this  laft  kind,  delivered  by  Pericles.     Tlieihul- 
trlous  fpeaker,  after  a  moft  animating  defcription 
of  t\^tAmor  Patria,  the  love  of  our  country— 
which  he  exalts  above  all  hutnap  virtues,  turns  to 

the  deceafed.  , ,. 

"  Having  beftowed  their  lives  to  the  public, 
.'  every  one  of  them,  fays  he,  bath  received  a 
«>  praise  that  will  never  decay  -.  a  fepulchre  that 
.<  will  always  be  moft  illuP-  ious ;  not  that  m  which 
««  their  bones  lie  moulderincc.  but  that  in  which 
.«.  their  fame  is  preferved.  This  whole  earth  is  the 
«'  fepulchre  of  iUuftrious  citizens"— and  their  in- 
fcription  is  written   upon  the  hearts  of  all    good 


men. 


"  As  for  you,  the  furvlvors,  from  this  very  mo- 
-  ment.  emulating  their  virtues,  place  your  fole 
«'  happinais  in  liberty,  and  be  prepared  to  foUovj 
«  its  call  through  every  danger."  Ttien,  addrel- 
fincT  himfelf,  withcxquifite  tendernefs,  to  the  rc- 
liat  and  children  of  the  deceafed,  he  fi-ggcfts  to 
them,  that  the  common  wealth  was  their  huioand, 
their  father,  and  brother. 

"  From  this  day  forward,  to  the  age  of  mata- 
«  rlty,  fhall  the  Orphans  be  educated  at  the  public 
—  -  ■'        — -       —   "  '  expcnce 

■    \ 


(   6   ; 

**  expence  of  the  ftate.  For  this  benevolent  meed 
"  have  the  laws  appointed  to  all  future  relifts  of 
^*  thofe  who  m^y  fall  in  the  public  concefts/' 

Nor  were  the  Romans  lefs  careful  in  this  mat- 
ter. Confidering  men  in  general  as  brave^  more 
by  art  than  nature ;  and  that  honour  is  a  more 
powerful  incentive  than  fear  j  they  made  frugality, 
temperance,  patience,  and  labor,  manly  exercife^ 
and  love  of  rheir  country,  the  maLi  principles  of 
education.  Cowardice  and  negled:  oi  duty  in  the 
field,  were  feldom  puniChcd  with  death  or  corpo- 
ral inflictions ;  but  by  what  was  accounted  worfe, 
a  life  decreed  to  ignominious  expuliion,  and  de-^ 
gradation  from  Roman  privileges. 

On  the  contrary,  deeds  of  public  virtue  were  re-^ 
warded,  according  to^  their  magnitude,  with  fta-.^ 
tucs,  triumplis  of  various  kinds,  peculiar  -badges 
of  drefs  at  public  folen'mitiesj  and  fong«  of  praife 
to  the  livi-ng  as  well  as  the  dead. 

Next  to  the  hymns  coaipofed  in  honor  of  the 
Gods  ;  Poetry  derived  its  origin^ from  the  fongs  of 
triumph  to  heroes^  who  tamed  the  rude  manners 
of  mankind,  founded  cities,  repelled  the  incuriions 
of  enemiep,  and  gave  peace  to  their  country.  And 
this  cuftom  began  when  Rome  contained  only  a 
lew  fnepherds,  gathering  flrength  by  an  alluvies. 
of  the  outcafts  of  neighbouring  nations. 

Thofe  firft  efforts  ef  poetic  calogy,  whether  in 
profe  or  vcrfe  (like  thofe  of  a  fimilar  origin,  which: 
uature,  alv/ays  the  fame,  teaches  our  favage  neigh- 
bours) although  often  iublime  in  fubftance,  were 
yet  fo  rude  in  ftrudurc,  that  Livy  forbears  quoting 
tiicm,  as  having  become  intolerable  to  the  more 

refined 


(    7    ) 

refined  taftc   of  their  pofterity  ;  however  fuifable 
they  might  nave  been  to  the  acra  of  their  produdion. 
What  a  multitude  of  compofiticns  of  this  kind 
maft  have  exifted  between  the  barbarous  fongs  of 
the  military  upon  the  triumph  of  Cofius,   and  the 
celebrated  panegyric  of  Pliny  upon  Trajan  !  Thev 
are  faid  t©  have  been  fwellcd  into  two  thoufand 
volumes,  even  in  the  ti!;ic  of  Auguftus.    In  fliorr, 
'  the  praife  of  public  virtue  was    wrought  into  the 
whole  texture  of  Roman  polity  j  and  Virgil,  callinor 
Religion  to  his  aid,  gave  it  the  higheft  finifji,       " 
He  divides  his  Hades,  or  place  of  Gho«s,    into 
different  regions ;  and  to  the  gulph  of  deepeft  per- 
dition, configns  thole    monftersof  iniquity  whi> 
delighted  in  the  deftrudion  of  mankind,  betrayed 
Jeir  country,  or  violated  its  religion  and    laws. 
There  he  excruciates  them,  in  company  with 

"  Gorgons  and  Hydras  and  Chimeras  dire—" 
Vultures  prey  upon  their  vitals,  or  they  are  whirled 
eternally  round  with  Ixion  upon  his  wheel  or 
bound  down  with  Tantalus,  whofe  burning 'lbs 
iiang  quivering  over  the  elufive  waters  it  cannot 
touch  ;  or  the  Fury  Tifyphone,  her  hair  entwin'd 
with  lerpents,  her  garments  red  with  human  <Tore 
urges  on  their  tortures  with  unrelenting  hand  "f      * 

The  Poet  having  thus  exhaufted  imagination  as 
well  as  mythology,  in  the  defcription  of  puniflx- 
mentsfor  the  difturbers  of  mankind  and  foes  to 
their  country,  raifes  his  conclufion  to  a  height  of 
horror  beyond  the  reach  of  exprefTion-- 

"  Had  I  a  hundred  mouths,  a  hundred  tongues,' 
NT  ''°^^/{  '"■^^''  ^"'^  adamantine  lungs ; 
Not  ha  f  the  mighty  icsnt  could  I  difclofc  • 
I'Repeattheir      -.^v"  ■:,•'•.>•. -dreadful  woes. 


r  s  ) 

Nor  has  Virgil  ftraved  any  farther  through  the 
fields  of  fancy  or  fable  in  this  place  than  to  bor- 
row ftrtngth  of  colouring  for  the  r.rb  of  tnith  ;  and 
I  fufpedt,  that  he  drank  from  a  purer  founta-.o  than 
that  of  Helicon,  when  he  peopled  bis  Tartarus  wuh 
the  ancient  fcourges  of  the  human  race-  An  au- 
thor ity  facred  among  chriftians  has  indeed  g.ven  us 
a  moft  awful  conf.rmati. :.  of  his  dodnne     _ 

A  Prophet  and  Poet  indeed,  whofe   lafpiration 
was  truly  from  Heaven,  the  incomparably  fabxme    •■ 
ISAIAH,  foretelling  the  fail   of  Babylon,   has  an 
Ode  of  triumph,  wherein  he  e^^ults  over  us  haughty 
Monarch  in  Itrains    of  wonderful   irony   and    re- 
proach. He  reprobates  him  as  a  deftroyer  of  man- 
Ld  ;  who  hid  "  made  the  world  a  w.ldernefs. 
He  reprefents  the  whole  earth  as  delivered  f,om  a 
rurfebyhisfalll  The  trees  of  the   forcft  rejoice, 
becaufe  he  is  laid  low  1  The  very  grave    refafes   a 
covering  to  his  execrable  corfe !  he  is  configne..  to 
th    depLofm-ifery;  while  the  infernal  manfions 
■    themfelves  are  moved   at  his   approach,  and   uie 
Ss  of  departed  tyrants  rife  up,  m  hornd  .rray  , 
fnd  mocker^  of  triumph,  to  bid  him  welcome  t.  , 

his  final  abode  !  ,  r  •  >  ^f  th\<,  imC 

The  aftonifhing  grandeur  and  fpint  of  tms  pa.- 
fa.e.  and  i.deed  Sf  the  whole  Ode.  are  unnva-lcd 
Wnv  Poet  of  Greek  or  Roman  name.  1 
^^<Tlow  hath  the  opprefTor  ceafed  !  T^-  Lord 
.<  hath  broken  the  fl^ff  of  the  wicked  !  He  that 
..  mote  the  people  in  wrath--that  ruled  the  riat^n. 
.<  in  anger--is  perfeaued  and  none  hindere  n  The 
«.  whok  earth  is  at  reft-they  break  torth  no 
« flnging ;  yea  the  fie-^trees  rejoice  at  thee,    nd  the 


(  ^  ) 

^^  ce^ars^  oF  Lebanon,   l^iyH>g>  fince  thou  art  laid 
**  down  no  teller  is  come  up  againd  us- 

»^  Hell  from  beneath  is  moved  for  thee,  to  meet 
''  thee  at  thy  coming.  It  Oarreth  up  the  dead  for 
''  thed— even  the  chiefs  of  the  nations !  They  (ay 
^'  unto  thee,  art  thoo  alfo  become  weak  as  we  ? 
*'  1  hy  pomp  is  brought  down  to  the  grave-— How 
'*  art  thou  fallen,  O  Lucifer,  that  didft  weaken  the 
*'  nations  ?  All  kings^  (meaning  jaft:  and  merciful 
''  kings)  even  all  of  them^ie  in  glory,  every  one  ia 
'*  his  own  hoafe  (or  fepuichre  ;)  but  thou  art  caft 
'^  out  of  thy  grave  like  an  abominablevbranch/'  &c. 
Bat  although  the  reward  of  heroes,  in  the  chrif- 
tian*s  heaven,  be  oar  proper  theme  on  this  folemn 
day  ;  yet  the  paffmg  view  which  we  have  taken  of 
the  perdition  decreed  to  the  traitors  of  their  country, 
in  the  Poet's  hell,  confirmt^d  alfo  by  the  voice  of 
fcripture,  is  not  foreign  to  our  main  purpofe, 

I  know   your  boioms   glow   with    fo   ilrongan 
averfion  to  all  the  foes  of  liberty  in  this  life,  that 
you  will  furely  aVoid  every   thought  and  adtion, 
which  might  doom  you   to  their  company  in  the 
life   to  come  j  and  therefore,  bidding  adieu — and 
may  it  be  an  eternal  adieu— to  thofe  dreary  regions 
and  their  mifc-rable  i^nhabltants,   let  us-  ivov/  exalt 
our  joyous  vitw  to  thofe  celeflial   n^anfions,  where 
the  benefaarors  of  mankindreap  immortal  triumphs! 
''  Lo  !  the  bleft  tt^ln  advance  along  the  meads, 
*^  And  fnowy  wreaths  adorn  their  glorious  heads 
*^  Patriots  who  periflVd  for  their  countr.^^'s  rights 
*«  Or  nobly  triumph'd  in  the  field  of  fight. 
*'  Worthies,  who  life  by  ufeful  arts  rcfin'd, 
**  With,  thofe  who.  leave  a  deathlcfs  name  behind 
"'  -  g  '         '^^Fiiends 


*«  Friends  of  the  world,  and  patrons  of  mankind^ 
«'  Some  on  the  verdant  plains  are  ftretch'd  along^ 
•«  Sweet  to  the  ear,  their  tuneful  Paeaiis  rung. 
But  here,  ye  Pagan  poets,  and  thou  Prince  of 
their  choir,  we  leave  you  far  behind  ;  for  your 
fublimeft  flights  are  now  infinitely  fhort  of  the 
theme  !  Your  gloomy  Theology  gave  you  tolerable 
aid  in  forming  a  Hell,  but  the  utmoft  efforts  of 
natural  genius  could  not  make  a  heaven  worthy  of 
a  rational  and  immortal  foul  !  The  glory  of  giving 
lomc  animating  defcription  of  that  blils  "  which 
eye  hath  not  feen,  nor  ear  before  heard,  nor  could 
<<  the  unenlightened  heart  of  man  otherwife  con- 
*'  ceive/'  was  left  for  a  more  divine  teacher.  From 
him  we  learn,  that  a  heart  pure  and  detatched  from 
fordid  plealures,  a  foul  panting  after  perfedlion, 
ftriving  to  imitate  the  goodnefs  of  heaven,  antici- 
pating its  approving  fentence,  and  devoted  to  the 
fervice  of  mankind,  fhall  at  laft  rife  and  mix  in 
eternal  fellowfliip  with  the  beatified  family  of  God. 
Having  now,  my  refpeded  countrymen-— and  I 
hope  I  do  not  weary  you— laid  a  wide  foundation 
upon  the  pradice  of  the  wifeft  nations— in  fupport 
of  the  prefent  folemnity  ;  I  fhall  add  but  little 
more  concerning  the  public  utility  of  the  thing 
itfelf. 

Circumftanced  as  we  now  are,  perhaps  fhall  long. 
be,  in  building  up  a  fabric  for  future  ages,  it 
•would  be  a  wife  infiitution,  if  in  imitation  of  the 
Genoefe*  feaft  of  union,'  we  fhould  make  at  leafl' 
an  annual  paufe,  for  a  review  of  paft  incidents,  and 
of  the  charaders  of  thofe  who  have  borne  an  illuf- 
trious  ftiare  in  them  5  thereby  animating  our  virtue. 


and  uniting  ourfcIve&  more  clofely  in  the  bonds  of 
mutual  friend  lliip,** 

The  world,  in  general,  is- more  willing  to  imi- 
tate, than  to  be  taught;  and  examples  of  eminent 
eharaders  have  a  ilronger  influence  than  written 
precepts.  Mex's  adions  area  more  faithful  mirror 
of  their  lives  than  their  words.  Tiie  former  feldoni 
deceive  y  but  the  latter  often.  The  deeds  of  old, 
contradt  a  venerable  authority  over  us,  when  fanc- 
tified  by  the  voice  of  app'auding  ages ;  and,  even 
in  our  own  day,  our  hearts  take  an  immediate  part 
with  thofe  who  have  nobly  triumphed,  or  greatly 
fufFered  in  our  behalf. 

But  the  more  ufefu]  the  difplay  of  fuch  characs- 
tersraaybe  co  the  world,  the  more  difficult  is  the 
work.  And  I  am  net  to  learn,  that  of  all  kinds  of 
writing,  panegyric  requires  the  moft  delicate  hand* 
Men  feldom  endure  the  praife  of  any  adions,  but 
thofe  v^hich  their  felf-love  reprefents  as  poffible  to 
themfelves.  Whatever  is  held  up  as  an  example, 
if  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  humanity  duly 
exalted  by  public  fpirit,  will  exite  no  emulation; 
and  whatever  is  placed  within  the  vulgar  walks  of 
life,  will  attrad:  no  attention. 

There  is  a  further  difficulty,  peculiar  to  certaia;^ 
times;  particularly  thofe  of  civil  diflenfioni  when 
the  minds   of  men   are  worked   into   a  ferment, 
Vv^'hence  it  happens,  that  they  who  have  been  the 
fubjcdsof  obiiquy  in  one  age,  have  become  the 

theme  of  praife  in  another.  Such  was  Ham.pden 

in  the  days  of  paffivc  obedience;  branded  as  a  fedU 
tious  difturbcr  of  his  country's  peace;  and  at  the 
blefkd  aera.o£  the  revolution,  ei:alted  into  the  firfl: 

rank: 


C       12       > 

rank  of  patriots.  Such  was  Sidney,  coridemne^f 
to  afcaffold  in  the  former  period  ;  and,  in  the  lat- 
ter, immortalized  by  the  delegated  Voice  of  the 
nation ! 

What  judgment"  pofterity  will  form  of  the  pre- 
fent  mighty  contcft,  in  which  thefc  united  colo- 
nies are  engaged,  I  am  at  no  lofs  to  determine' iii 
my  own  heart.  But^  while  the  fame  adions  are, 
by  one  part  of  a  great  empire,  pronounced  the  moft; 
criminal  refiftance,  and  by  another,  the  moft  laiid- 
abieeiforts  of  felf-prefervatioa^  no  public  chara^er 
can  be  drawn  alike  acceptable  to  -all,  Neverihc- 
lefs,  as  the  faithful  hiliorian  is  the  beft  panegyrift 
of  true  merit,  he  will  not  fail)ioD  himfeif  to  times. 
and  feafons,  but  exalt  himfelf  above  them ;  and, 
confcious  of  his  dignity,  as  refponfibic  to  kicceed- 
5ng  ages,  will  take  eternal  truth  as  his  fupport, 
which  can  alone  bear  the  impartial  teft  of  future 
examination.  He  knows  that  the  divine  colors  of 
virtue,  although  they  may  give  a  temporary  g^are, 
will  not  blend  or  mellow  into  a  ground-work  of 
vice. 

Whatever  events,  difaftrous  or  happy,  may  lie 
before  us ;  yet  fome  degree  of  applaufe,  even  from 
an  enemy,  is  certainly  due  to  thofe  iiluflrious  men, 
v^'^ho,  led  by  confcience  and  a  clear  perfuafion  of 
duty,  lacrifice  their  eafe,  their  lives  and  fortunes  to. 
the  public  ;  and  from  their  friends  and  country, 
they  are  entitled  to  a  deathlefs  renown. 

Perifh  that  narrow  pride,  whichfwill  fufrer  mca 
to  acknowledge  np  virtue,  but  among  their  own 
party.  In  this  direful  conteft,  the  chief  concern 
of  a  liberal  mind/ will  be^  that  fo  mucl;i  pcrfonal 

"'  .         '   " -  vii:-^ 


(     IS    > 

virtue  as  nriay  be   found  on   both  fide%   bftead  of 

being  united  in  fome  great  national  point  for  the 
common  good,  ihould  be  dread  fully  employed  to 
the  purpoie  of  mutual  deilrudion.  And  a  man 
can  as  foon  diveft  hiaifelf  of  his  hutnanity,  as  rc- 
fuletbc  tribute  of  veneration,  <}ae  tp  actions  truly 
n.iagn^.ninaons, 

V/hen  once  it  becomes  crioiinal  to  plead  th« 
caufe  of  a  fufFering  people;  when  their  virt'ies  caa 
no  longer  be  fafely  recorded,  then  tyranny  has  put 
the  lalt  hand  to  her  barbarous  work.  All  the  va- 
luable purpofes  of  lociety  ar^  fruihated  ;  and  what- 
ever other  human  fate  remains  will  be  wholly  in- 
different to  the  wife  and  good. 

There  are  alfo  many  whofe  minds  are  fo  little^ 
that  they  can  conceive  nothing  great,  which  does 
cot  court  the  eye  in  all  the  trappings  of  drefs,  titles, 
and  external  fplendor.  An  America)uPatriot  !  a 
Blanket-Here  !  a  General  from  the  phugh  !  All 
thefe  are  terms  of  ridicule  and  reproach  among 
many.  Yet  fuch  was  Cincinnatus^  in  the  beft  days 
of  Roman  virtue  ;  and  a  Britifli  p* ^it,  already  quo- 
ted, hath  boldly  taught  his  countrymen  this  noble 
leffon: 

*'  Some^  with  wbom  compared,  your  injcul-trtbei 
**  Are  but  the  beings  of  a  Jammer's  day^ 
*«  Have  held  the  leak  of  empire^  rul'd  the  ftorm 
*^'  Of  mighty  war  ;  then^  with  unweary'd  hand^ 
**  Dijdatning  little  delicacies^  Jeiz*d 
*'  The  plough,,  and  grec^dy    independayit  liv'd,'* 

Thompsoi^. 
"»     The  fame  noble  kflbn  is  alfo  taught,  by  the  well 
known,  flory  of  the  two  Spaniib  grandees,  who 


r  H  ) 

were  fent  ambaffadors  to  the  Hague.  Notwith- 
ftanding  all  the  pride  oi  their  nation,  they  did  not 
defpifc  the  Dutch  deputies,  when  they  met  then^ 
in  a  plain  habit,  and  iaw  them  on  a  journey  fit 
down  upon  the  grafs,  to  a  frugal  rcpaft  of  bread 
and  cheefe,  out  of  their  knapfacks.  On  the  con- 
trary, they  cried  out,  "  We  fliail  never  be  able  to 
*'  conquer  thele  people  j  we  muft  even  make  peace 
with  tiiem.'^ 

Should  ambaffidors  honor  us  with  a  vifit,  upon 
a  like  occaiion  ;  let  us  be  prepared  to  meet  them 
in  the  flime  majeftic  fimplicity  of  drefs  and  man- 
ners. Let  us  convince  them  that  public  virtue  is 
confined  to  no  clafs  of  men  ;  and  that  although  it 
fornetimes  bafks  in  the  lunfhine  of  courts,  it  fre- 
quently lies  hid  in  the  fhades  of  obfcurity,  like  the 
latent  fire  in  flint,  till  called  forth  by  the  coUifive 
Jiand  of  oppreffion^ 

Adveriiiy  is  the  ieafon  which  (hews  the  fpirit  of  a 
tnm  in  its  full  vigor  ;  and  times  of  civil  calamity 
never  tail  to  ftrike  forth  lights,  fornetimes  fingle, 
and  fornetimes  whole  confteilations,  mingling  their 
kindred  rays  to  warm  and  to  ill«uminate  the  geniusr 
of  their  country. 

The  facred  flame  thus  enkindled,  is  not  fed  by^ 
the  fuel  of  faction  or  party ;  but  by  pure  benevo- 
lence and  love  of  the  public.  It  therefore,  fooa 
rifes  above  the  felfifh  principles,  refines  and  bright- 
ens as  it  rifes,  and  expands  itfeU  into  heavenly  di- 
nienfion?.  Being  inexti'nguifbable  in  its  own  na- 
ture, the  blood  of  thoufands  on  the  fcaiFold  or  in: 
the  field,  is  but  as  oil  poured  into  a  conflagration, 
cncreaiiiig  its  vehemence,  till  it  cooiames  all  be- 


(     15    ) 

fore  it  5  burning  ftill  clearer  and  ftrongcr,  unto  the 
full  day  of  peace  and  civil  happjnefs. 

Thofe  who  enjoy   a  true  portiop  of  this  divine 
flame,  duly  called  forth  into  exercife,  ftand  in   no 
need '  of   further    titles  or    diftindions,  either  by 
birth  or   grant.     For  what  can  the  world   prefent 
greater  to  the  fight  of  mortals,  or  even  immortals^ 
than  a  man  who  knows  and  courts  ihc  bleffings  of 
peace, ,  who  wilhes  to  breathe    out  his  laft  in  its 
arms  \  and,  keeping  it  ftill  as  his  objecb,  is  never- 
thelefs  roufed  by    the   iirft  pang    ot  his    lufFering 
country  j  gives  his  whole  illuftrious  fpirit  to  her  re- 
lief; rifes  above  all  human  allurements;  never   re- 
mits his  zeal ;  fears  na;hing ;  regards  norbing,  bat 
the  ientiments  which  virtue  and  magnanim'ty  in- 
fpire  ?     What  higher  qualities  can  be  required  ta 
entitle  a  man  to  tne  veneration  and  eulogies  of  his 
country  ?     And  thefe  too  will  be  his  molt  durable 
monument. 

The  ma^mificent  ftruftures  raifed  by  the  grati- 
tude of  m.ankind   to  their  benefadois  of  old,  had 
but  a  local  and  temporary   ule.     They  were   be-- 
held  only  by  one  people,  and  for  a  few  ages. 
"  The  Heaven afpiring  pyramid,  the  proud 
«  Triumphal  arch,  and  all  that  e'er  upheld 
««  The  worfhipp'd  name  of  hoar  antiquity 
"  Are  mouldering  into  duft." 
In  vain  does  the  way-faring  man  invcftigate  the 
tottering  ruins    for    the  divinity   once    cnlhrined 
there!     A    fcanty   refceptacle,    about  fix  feet  m 
length,  and  half  the  breadth,,  informs  him,  that  it 
once  contained  fome  human  duft,  longfince  ming- 
kd  with  the   commou  mafs.    la  vain   does   thcr 


t  i6  )  .   .    .  ; 

iprying  antiquary  dwell  upon  the  fculpture,  or 
ilrive  to  colled  and  fpell  the  fcattered  fragments 
of  letters.  The  infcription  is  gone— ^long  fincc 
gone,  effaced,  obliterated  !  And  fruiclcfs  were  the 
ibarch,  through  the  whole  world,  for  the  Hero's 
name,  if  it  were  not  recorded  in  the  Orator's  pagc^ 
and  proclaimed  by  the  faithful  voice  of  hilfory. 

There  it  fhali  live,  while  the  fnuileft  veftiges  of 
literature  remain  upon  earth,  yea,  till  the  final  dif- 
folation  of  things  human  ;  nor  fliall  it  perifh  then  3 
but,  being  the  immediate  care  of  Heaven,  the 
great  Archangel,  when  he  fweeps  funs  and  fyllems 
frorri  their  place,  and  kindles  up  their  lafl  fires, 
ftretching  forth  his  mighty  arm,  ilLtll  pluck  the 
deathi'efs  fcroll  from  the  devouring  conflagration, 
and  give  it  a  place  among  the  archives   of  eternity  ! 

But  whither  am  1  borne  ?  to  what  heights  have 
I  afcended  ?  I  look  dovvn  with  aftonifliment  and 
tremble  at  my  fituation  !  O!  Let.  your  friendly 
arms  be  extended  to  fave  me  as  I  fall.  For  in  the 
idea  I  have  of  my  fubjec^,  I  have  undertaken  ^to 
guide  the  chariot  of  the  fun  ;  and  how  fhall  I  fleer 
through  the  exalted  traft  that  lies  before  me  ?-— 
Confidering  myfelf  as  honored  with  this  day's  of- 
fice, by  the  delegated  voice  of  fome  milHons  of 
people  through  a  vaft  continent,  upon  an  occafion, 
wherein  their  gratitude,  their  dignity,  their  love 
of  liberty,  are  ail  in  fome  degree  concerned  j  what 
language  fhsll  I  ufe,  or  how  fhall  I  accommodate 
inyfelf  to  every  circumflance,  in  the  arduous  work  ? 

Truth  alone  muft  guide  the  hand  that* delineates 
a  character.  Should  I  affedt  to  foar  aloft  and  dip 
my  pencil  in  the  colours  of  the  iky,  I  ihould  bat 

en- 


(     »7    ) 
1fnaang;er  my  own  ^ings,  melt  their  wax,  and  be 

precipitated  headlong.  "  Nor  is  the   danger   lefs  in 

the  other  extreme. 

Oh!  then,  for  fonie  better  Phcebus,  fome  pre- 
fiding  Genius,  to  gaide  me  through  my  remaining 
way;  to  point  out  the  middle  path,  and  teach  me 
to  unite  dignity  with  eaie,  ftrength  with  perfpecu- 
ity  i  and  truth  with  the  unafFedled  graces  of  elocu- 
tion. Or  rather,  you  {hall  be  my  Phoebus^  my 
infpiring  as  well  ^s  prefiding  genius,  ye  delegated 
fathers  of  your  country  !  So  far  vrill  I  ftrive  to 
imitate  him,  who  always  animated  himfelf  with 
his  fubj'^d,  by  thus  accofting  himfelf  before  he 
went  forth  to  fpeak. 

"  Remember,  thou  art  this  day  going  to  addrefs 
inen  born  in  the  arms  of  liberty,  Grecians,  Athe- 
nians !" — Let  no  thought  enter  thy  heart-— let  no 
word  fall  from  thy  tongue^  un Worthy  of  fuch  an 
audie.ice ! 

As  to  that  hero,  whofe  memory  you  celebrate 
as  a  ProtO' Martyr  to  your  rights,  for  through 
whatever  fields  1  have  ftraycd,  he  has  never  es- 
caped my  vieWj  as  to  him  I  fay,  if  any  thing  hu- 
man could  now  reach  his  ear,  nothing  but  the 
great  concerns  of  virtue,  liberty,  truth  and  juftice 
would  be  tolerable  to  hirn ;  for  to  thefe  v^^as  his 
life  devoted,  from  his  early  years. 

He  had  received  a  liberal  education  in  Ireland, 
his  native  country,  before  he  went  into  the  army; 
and  was  indeed  endued  with  talents  which  would 
have  led  him  to  eminence  in  any  profeffion.  His 
own  he  (ludied  with  a  felicity  which  foon  diftin- 
guiflicdhii  military  abilities  ^  but  war  and  conquefl: 

C     ^  t  - 


(    i8   ; 

having  no  other  charms  to  him  than  as  the  necefla- 
ry  means  of  peace  and  happincfs,  tomankind^  he 
ftill  found  leifure,  in  the  midll  of  camps,  to  cuhi- 
vate  an  excellent  tafte  for  philofophy,  and  polite 
literature.  To  thefe  he  added  a  careful  fludy  of 
the  arts  of  government,  and  the  rights  of  man- 
kind ,  looking  forward  to  that  time,  when  he 
might  defcend  into  the  fi ill  f cents  of  private  life  ; 
and  give  a  full  flow  to  the  native  ar^d  acquired  vir- 
tues ofa  heart  rich  in  moral  excellence. 

Above  eighteen  years  ago  he  had  attained  the 
rank  of  Captain  iatbe  17th  regiment,  under  Ge- 
neral Monckton,  and  flood  full  in  the  way  of 
higher  preferment ;  having  borne  a  (liarc  in  all  the 
labors  of  cur  American  wars,  and  the  rcdudion  of 
Canada.  Ill-fated  region !  iLort-fighted  mortals ! 
Little  did  he  forefeejhe  fcenes  which  that  laTTd  had 
ftill  in  refervc  for  him  !  Little  did  thofe  generous 
Americans,  who  then  ftood  by  his  fide,  think  that 
they  were  afiifling  to  fubdue  a  country,  which 
would  one  day  be  held  up  over  us,  as  a  greater 
fcourge  in  the  hands  of  friends,  than  ever  it  was 
in  the  hands  of  enemies ! 

Had  fuch  a  thought  then  entered  our  hearts,  we 
fhould  have  flarted  with  indignation  from  the  deed 
of  horror.  Our  heroiim  would  have  appeared 
madncfs  and  parricide  1  The  lifted  fteel  would 
have  dropped  from  the  warrior's  arm  \  The  axe 
and  the  hoe  from  the  laborer^s  grafp !  America 
would  have  weeped  through  all  her  forefts;  and 
her  well-cultivated  fields  rcfufed  to  yield  farther 
fuftenance  to  her  infatuated  fons ! 

But  far  different  were  our  thoughts  at  that, time. 

Wis 


r  19  ) 

Vi/Q  confidered  ourfclves  as  co-operating  with  our 
brethren,  for  the  glory  of  the  empire  ;  to  enable 
thciii  to  (ecare  our  cominon  peace  and  liberty  ;  to 
huni>inise,  adorn,  and  dignify,  with  Britifh  privi- 
leges, a  vaft  continent ;  to  become  ftrong  in  our 
ftrength,  hvippy  i^>  our  happinels;.  and  to  derive 
that  froni  our  affediaa,  which  no  force  c^n  e'xtorc 
from  a  free  peopJe ;  and  which  the  n^ilerable  and 
opprcfT^d  cannot  give  ! 

And  thefCj  too,  were  the  fcntiments  of  our  la^ 
mcnted  Hero  ;  for  he  had  formed  an  early  attach- 
HiCnt,  amounting  even  to  an  enthufiaftic  love  for 
this  country  !  The  woodland  and  the  plain  ;  the 
face  of  natures  grand,  venerable,  and  yet, rejoicing 
in  her  prime;  our  mighty  rivers,  defccnding  in 
vaft  cataracfts  through  wild  and  ihaggy  mountains, 
or  gliding  in  fiient  majefty  through,  fertile,  vales  5 
their  numerous  branches  and  tributary  fprings  ;  our 
romantic  fcencs  of  rural  quiet;  our  fimplicity  of 
manners,  yet  uncorruptcd ,  by  luxury  or  flagrant 
vice;  our  love  of  knowlege  and  ardorof  liberty^ 
ah  tile fe  ferved  to  convey  the  idea  of. primaeval  fe- 
licity to  a  heart  which  he. had  taught  to  b^at  uni- 
fon  with  the  harmony  of  Heaven  / 

He  therefore  ehofe  America,  as  the  field  of  Ws 
future  ulefulnefs  J  ^  and  as  foon  as  the  bleiTings  ©f 
peace  were  reftored  to  his  country,  and  duty  to 
his  {©vereigQ  would  permit,  he  took  his  leave  of 
the  army,  and  having  foon  connected  himlelf,.  by 
marriage,  with  aii  ancient  and  honorable  family, 
in  the  province  of  New- York,  he  chofe  a  delight- 
ful retirement  upon  the  banks  of  Hudfon's  river, 
a,t  a  diftvinve  hov*  the  noife  of  the  bufy  v/x>rld  ! — 

-  ^  Ha--. 


(^  2a  > 
Having  a  heart  diflcfidcd  with  benevolence^  and 
pantMig  to  do  good,  he  foon  acquired,  without- 
Courting  it  from  his  neighbours,  that  authority^ 
which  an  opinion  of  fuperior  talents,  and  ijaflexible 
integrity,  never  fail  to  create. 

In  this  molt  eligible  oi  all  fituations,  the  life  of 
a  country  gentleman,  deriving  its  nioft  exquifite 
relifli  from  refledion  upon  paft  dangers,  and  pall: 
fervices,  he  gave  full  fcope  to  his  phiiofophic  fpirit^ 
and  t.fte  for  rural,  elegance*  Sclf-iatisfied  ^nd 
raifed  above  vulgar  ambition,  he  devoted  his  time 
to  fweet  domcftic  intercourfe^  with  the  amiable 
partner  of  his  heart,  friendly  converfe  vvith  mea 
of  worth,  the  ftudy  of  ufeful  books,  and  the  im- 
provement of  his  favoured  villa.  Nor  from  tha^ 
happy  fpot  did  he  willi  to  ftray,  until  he  ihould 
receive  his  laft  jfummons.  to.  happinefs,  more  thaa 
terrcftial. 

But  when  the  hand  of  power  was  flretched  forth 
againft  the  land  of  his  rcfidencc,  he  had  a  heart  too. 
noble  not  to  fympathi^e  in  its  diftrefs,^  From  that 
lata!  day-— and  Oh!  that  it  had  never  found  a, 
place  in  the  volumes  of  Time;  from  that  fatal 
day,  in  which  the  firft  American  blood  was  fpilt 
by  the  hoftile  hands  of  Britifh  brethren,  and  the 
better  genius  of  the  empire,  veiling  her  face  in  an- 
guifli,  turned  abhorrent  from  the  firifc  of  .death 
among  her  children;.  I  fay,  from  that  fatal  day, 
he  chofe  his  part. 

Although  his  liberal  fpirit  placed  him  above  lo- 
cal  prejudices,  and    he   confidered   himfelf  as    a, 
spiember  of  the  empire  at  large ;    yet   America, 
ftriiggling  in  the  caufe  ojF  liberty,  henceforth  be- 
came 


came  his  pceuliar  country  ;  and  that  country  took 
full  poffcffion  of  his  foul ;  lifting  him  above  this, 
c^rthlv'  drofs,  and  every  private  affedion  !  Worth 
like  his,  could  be  no  longer  hid  in  the  Shades  of 
obfcurity  ;  nor  permit  him  to  be  placed  ia  that  in- 
ferior rtation  with  which  a  mind,  great  in  humilitjf 
and  felf  denial,  would  have  been  contented,  it 
was  wifely  confidered,  that  he,  who  had  lo  well 
learned  to  obey,  was  fitted  to  command  ;  and 
therefore,  being  well  afiured  of  his  owr^  heart,  he 
rcligned  himfclf  to  the  public  voice,  nor  hcfitated 
a  moment  loni>er  to  accept  the  important  commif- 
fion  frjecly  offered  to  him,  and,  with  the  firmnefs 
of  another  Regulus,  to  bid  farewell  to  his  peaceful 
retirement,  and  domeftic  cndsarments. 

Here  followed  a  fcenc  of  undiffembled  tender- 
nefcand  diflrels,  which  all  who  hear  me  may,  ia 
fome  degree,  conceive ;  but  ail  cannot  truly  feel. 
You  only  who  are  hufbands,  whofe  hearts  have 
been  intimately  b!e."ided  with  the  partners  of  your 
blifs,  and  have  known  the  pangs  ct  feperation, 
when  launching  into  dangers,  uncertain  of  your 
fate.  You  only,  would  i  now  more  diredly  ad- 
drefs.^  Give  a  moment's  paufe  tor'refledUon  !  Re- 
call your  own  former  te^elings,  your  in\A^ard  flrug- 
gles,  your  virtuous  tears !  Here  bid  them  again 
freely  flow,  while  you  iiften  to  our  hero's  parting^ 
words, — 

Ye  fcener.  where   home-felt   pleafures  dwell. 

And  thou,  my  dearer  feif,  farewell  ! 

*'  Perhaps  the  Cypreis,  only  tree 

*'  Of  all  theie  groves,  Ihall  follow  tnej" 

But  fVill,  to  Triumph  or  a  Tomb, 

Where  virtue  calls,  I  come,  I  come  f  "  I 


(      22       > 

*'  T  COME,  I  Come!"  fslor  were  thefe  the 
i  words  of  diiappoinled  ambition  ;  nor  dictated 
by  any  ludden  .rtait  of  p^rty  seal.  He  had  weigh-, 
ed  the  conteA  well,  was  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  unalienable  rights  of  freemen^  and  ready 
to  fapport  them,  at  every  peril  5  He  h^d  long  fore- 
fc^n  and  lamented  the  fatal  iffue  to  which  things 
were  haftening.  Re  knew  that  the  Iword  of  civil 
deftruftion,  once  drawn,  is  not  eaiilj  (heathed ;. 
that  men  having  their  mind«  inflamed  and  the  wea- 
pons of  defence  in  their  hands,  feidom  know  the 
juit  point  whe  e  to  flop,  even  when  they  have  it  in, 
their  po^yer ;  a:)d  often  proceed  to  adions,  the 
bare  qorvtemp.ation  of  which,  would  at  firil  havQ 
aftonifhed  them. 

It  was  therefore  his  dcfire  rather  to  foften  than 
cnflamc  violent  humors,  wiiliing  that  America,  in, 
all  her  adions,  might  ftand  judiSed  in  the  fight 
of  God,  and  the  world.     He  forelaw  the  horrid 
train  of  evils  which  would  be  Wt  ioofe  by  the  ftroke- 
"which  fliould  lever  the  ancient  bond  ot  union  be- 
tween Great-Britai'n  and  us.     It  was  therefore  bis. 
wifh,  that  (uch  a  ftroke  (hould  never  proceeH.  firft 
from  the  hand  of  America.     Nor  did  it  fo  pro- 
ceed. 

The  refiftance  made  at  Lexington,  was  not  the 
traitsrQus  ad  of  men  confpiriag  againft.the  lupreme 
powers  J  nor  di reded  by  the  councils  of  any  public 
body  in  America;  but  role  immediately  out  of  the 
cafe,  and  was  didated  by  felf-prefervation,-'  thafirfl: 
great  law  of  nature  as  well  as  fociety.  If  there 
was  any  premeditated  fcheme  here,  it  was  preme- 
ditated by  thofe  who  created  the  dreadful  necciiity, 

ei«. 


"  (       23      ) 

Cither  of  refinance  of  ruin.  For  could  it  be  ex- 
pedted,  that  any  people,  pc.ffcffing  the  leaft  re- 
mains  of  virtue  and  liberty,  would  tamely  fubniit 
to  deftrudion  and  ravage;  to  be  difarmed  as 
flaves  ;  ftiipped  ot  their  property,  and  left  a  naked 
prey  even  to  the  infultb  of  lurrouding  favages  ? 

Was  this  an  experiment  worthy  of  Great-Britain? 
Where  v^as  the  wildom  of  her  counfellors  ?    Had 
their  juftice,  th^ir  moderation  quite  forfaken  them? 
Could  they   polTibly  exped    obedience    in   fuch  a 
cafe  as  this  ?  Would  they  themfclv^s,  in  a  fimiiar 
cafe,  even  under  a  competent  legifliitive  authority, 
fubmit  to  laws  which  would  deftroy  the  great  end 
of  all  laws,  Self-Prcfervation  ?  Human  nature  lays, 
N®  ',  The  Genius  of  the  Englilh  conflitution  fays, 
No.'  The  nation  itfelf  hath   heretofore  faid,  No  ; 
and  a  great  oracle  {blackjione)  of  its  laws  has  given 
his  fandion  to  the  verdid— ''  In   cafes  of  national 
«  oppreffion,  fays  he.,  the  nation  hath   very  juftifi- 
<*  ably  rifcn  as  one  man,  to  vindicate  the  origin-l 
<<  contrad,  iubfiiling  between   King  and   people.'* 
"  And-—**  If  the  fovereign  power  threatens  deio- 
<«  lation  to  a  fiatc,  mankind  will  not  be    rcafoned 
out,  of  the  feelings  of  humanity,  nor  facrifice  liberty 
«« to  a  fcrupulous  adherence  ta  political  maxims." 

If  the  cafe  of  America  does  not  come  within  the 
above  dcicription,  there  feems  to  be  no  equity  left 
upon  earth  ;  and  whatever  is  bxaded  by  force» 
muft  be  yielded  through  fear.  But  if  juftice  be 
anv  thing  more  than  a  name,  it  is  furely  a  folecilrn 
in  politics  to  fay,  that  one  part  of  a^  free  counrry 
has  a^  right  to  cOmrrjand  tnat  which  the  other 
*'  cannot  obey  without  being  flaves,  nor  refill  with- 

^'  out 


(     H     ) 

**  out  being  rebels/*  Yet  to  fuch   a   fad  dilemmi 

does  the  parliamentary  claim  of  a  right  to  bind  us 
**  in  all  caies  whatfoever,**  reduce  Annerica  |  involv* 
ing  it  io/.a  total  iurrcnder  of  our  liberties  ;  fjpcr- 
fcding  the  ufe  of  our  own  legiflatures  ;  marking 
us  with  iuch  a  badge  of  fervitude  as  no  frtem^n 
can  content  to  wear  ^  and  fubjedting  us  to  burdens 
laid  by  thole  who  are  not  only  unacquainted  with 
our  circumftances,  and  bear  no  part  of  the  weighty 
but  cafe  themfelves  in  proportion  as  they  Ic^d  us* 
If  this  be  law,  if  it  be  equity,  it  has  no  example 
among  any  other  people,  poffeffing  the  leaft  glim- 
merings of  virtue  or  native  freedom. 

Bat  although  this  claim  be  fo  repugnant  to  every 
idea  of  natural  as  well  as  legal  juilice,  that  the 
guilt  of  blood  which  it  may  occafion  can  be  charge- 
able only  on  thofe  who  attempt  to  enforce  it;  yet 
I  am  well  aflured  that  when  compelled  at  laft  by 
hard  neccffity,  either  to  avert  the  dagger  pointed 
at  our  breafl  or  crouch  to  unconditional  fervitude^ 
cur  hero's  heart  bled  for  the  dreadful  alternative. 

His  principles  of  loyalty  to  his  fovereign  [whom 
he  had  long  ferved,  and  whofe  true  glory  confifts 
in  healing  thofe  ftreariiing  wounds]  remained  firm 
and  unihaken.  Love  to  our  brethren  whom  we 
mud  oppofe;  the  interchange  of  good  offices, 
which  had  fo  intimately  knit  the  bonds  of  friend- 
fhip  between  them  and  us ;  the  memory  of  thofe 
better  days,  in  which  we  fought  and  triumphed  to- 
gether;  the  vafl  fabric  of  mutual  happinefs  rarfed 
by  our  union,  and  ready  to  be  difTolved  by  our 
diifentions ;  the  annihilation  of  thofe  numerous 
plans  of  improvement  in  which  we  were  eiigaged 
"'^  '         '  ■'"'  for 


.    (       25       ) 

for  the  glory  of  the  empire  ;  ail  thefe  confiderati- 
ovis  conrpli'ed^  to  render  this  conteft  peculiarly  ab- 
horrent CO  him,  and  every  virtuous  American,  and 
could  have  been  outweighed  by  nothing  earthly^ 
but  the  unquenchable  love  of  liberty,  and  that  fa- 
ded duty  v^hicli  v/e  owe  to  ourlelves  and  our  pof- 
terity. 

Hence,  as  appears  from  his  papers,  even  in  the 
full  triumph  of  fuccefs,  he  moil:  ardently  joined  his 
v/oftfiy  friend,  General  Schuyler,  in  praying  that 
*^  Heaven  may  Ipcedily  re-unite  us  in  every  bond 
"  of  ailedioii  and  iiitereft  ;  and  that  the  BritiOi 
*'  empire  may  again  become  the  envy  and  admi- 
*'  ration  of  the  univerie,  and  iiourifli"  tillthecoa- 
fummation  of  earthly  things. 

This  pare  of  his  character,  I  dwell  upon  with 
particular  fatisfadtion  ;  and  indeed  had  he  evidenced 
a  contrary  ientiment,  or  gone  forth  in  the  rage  of 
conqueft  inikad  of  the  fpirit  of  reconciliation  ;  not 
ail  his  other  virtues,  nor  ^et  the  refped:  which  I 
owe  to  the  appointment  wherewith  I  am  now  ho- 
nored,  could  have  induced  me  to  appear  in  this 
place,  on  this  occafion. 

God  forbid  that  any  of  the  profeffion  to  which 
I  belong,  ihould  ever  for^^et  their  peculiar  charac- 
ter, e;^c:rcire  a  turbulent  ipirit,  or  proflltutc  their 
voice  to  enflavc  men's  minds  to  the  purpofes  of 
wild  ambition,  or  muiual  dedrudtion.  I  am  hap- 
py  in  knowing  that  nothing  of  this  kind  is  wiihed 
from  me  ;  nay,  that  the  delegated  voice  of  the 
conti^nent,  as  well  as  of  this  particular  province, 
Jupports  me  in  praying  for  a  reflocation  "  of  the 
*_^  former  harmony  between  Great-Britain,  and 
""  "    "     ^  ~  D  "  thefc 


(       26       ) 

"  thefe  colonies  upon  io  firm  a  bifis  as  to  perpetu- 
**  ate  ks  bleffings,  cninterupted  by  any  future  dif- 
fentions,  to  lucceeding  generations  in  both  ccu:i- 
trics."  I 

Indeed  this  matter  rcfts  in  fafe  hands^  and  is 
ckar  in  itfelf.  If  redrefs  of  grievances,  effential 
liberty,  and  fccurity  againft  future  opprefficn  can 
be  obtained,  agreeable  to  our  own  defires  y  then, 
neither  confiftency,  dignity,  or  a  regard  to  our  il- 
luftrious  Britifli  friends,  who  have  defended  our 
caufe,  pledged  themfelves  for  our  fincerity,  and 
hope  by  our  aid  to  reftorc  and  perpetuate  ehe  glory 
©f  the  whole  empire,  can  fuffer  us  to  hciitate,  To 
fay,  let  them  look  to  their  own  fafety,  and  wc 
will  lock  to  oars,  would  be  unworthy  of  the  libe- 
ral foul  of  any  American,  truly  animated  in  our 
prefent  caufe,  and  with  the  love  of  univerfal  li- 
berty. 

But  fuppofe  thefe  terms  cannot  be  obtained  ?>— 
Why  then,  there  will  be  no  need  of  further  argu- 
ments, much  Icfs  ©f  aggravations.  Timid  as  my 
heart,  perhaps  is,  and  ill- tuned  as  my  ear  may  be 
to  the  din  of  arms,  and  the  clangor  of  the  trumpet ; 
yet,  in  that  cafe,  founds  which  arc  a  thouiand 
times  more  harfh ;  "  even  the  croaking  of  frogs  in 
the  uncultivated  fen,"  or  the  howling  of  wild 
beafts  on  the  mountain  top,  where  liberty  dwells, 
would  be  **  preferable  to  the  Nightingalc^s  fong/* 
in  vales  offlavery,  or  the  melting  notes  of  CorcUi, 
in  cities  clanking  their  chains  ! 

If  this  be  a  digrefEon,  pardon  it  as  thelaft,  and 
due  to  my  own  principles  and  confiftency.  I  now 
haftcn  to  attend-  our  hero  through  the  remainder 

of 


(      2J      ) 

his  career — fhort  indeed  !  but  croudcd  with  fcenes 
of  virtuous  adivity,  which  would  have  dignified 
the  longcft  life. 

The  Canada  expedition  is  one  of  thofe  meafures,. 
which  the  enemies  of  American  peace  having  firft 
rendered  necefl^ry,   will  now  ftrivc  to  mifconftrue 
into    hoftility    and  offence.    But  v^hcn    authentic 
proofs  were  obtained  that  a  people  proteffing  a  re- 
ligion, and  fubjcded  to  laws,  different  from   ours, 
together  witli  numerous  tribes  of  favajes  were  in- 
ftigated  and   preparing  to    deluge  our  frontiers  in 
bloody  let  God  and  the  world  judge  v/hethcr  it  was 
an  adlof  offence  ;  or  rather,  whether  it  was  not 
mercy  to  them,  to  ourfelves,  to  the   whole  Britifh 
empire,  to  ufe  the  means  in   our  power  for  fruf- 
tracing  the  barbarous  attempt. 

Indeed  there  was  benevolence  in  the  whole  plan 
of  his  expedition.  It  was  to  be  executed  not  fo 
much  by  force  as  by  perfuafion  ^  and  appearing  in 
the  country  with  fuch  a  refpedable  ftrength,  as. 
might  protect  the  inhabitants  from  the  infults  and 
vcngeace  of  thcfe,  who  were  ftriving  to  make  them 
hft  up  their  reludlant  arm  to  the  fhedding  fraternal 
blood.  It  was  further  wifhed  to  kindle  up  the  ex- 
piring lamp  of  liberty  among  them  ;  to  open  their 
eyes  to  its  divine  effulgence  ;  and  enable  them  to 
raife  their  droopirrg  hea;i,  an^  claim  its  bleifing  as 
their  own. 

This  was  3  work,  in  all  its  parts,   fuited  to  the 
geniu^  of  a   Montgomery.  He   had  a   head   and, 
heart  which  equally  pointed  him  out  as  a  fit  guide. 
in  fuch  an  undertaking      He  underflood  and  couid 
well  cxpUin  die  bleflings  of  a  free  governiri^nr,. 

Esifuaiiori'; 


^  ,(  ^^  ) 

Perfaafion  dwelt  upon  his  tongue.  Fie  Iiaa  a  foul^ 
great,  difinterefted,  afFedionate,  delighting  to  alle- 
viate diftrefs,  and  to  difrufe  happineis.  He  had  an 
induftry  not  to  be  wearied  out  -,  a  vigilance  not  to 
be  impoled  upon  j  and  a  courage,  when  neeeffary, 
equal  to  his  other  abilities.        '  •    - 

f  But  ftill,  with  a  few  ncw-raifed  men,  of  different 
colonies,  and  perhaps  different  tempers ;  ill  fup- 
plied  with  arms  and  ammunition;  worfe  difcipHned; 
unaccuftomed  to  look  cannon  in  the  face  ;  to  make 
or  to  mount  a  breach— in  fuch  circumftances,  1 
fay,  andift  the  fliort  fpaceof  an  autumnal  and  win- 
ter campaign,  in  rigorous  northern  climeSj  to  at- 
chieve  a  work  which  coll  Great-Britain  and  the 
colonies  the  labor  of  feveral  campaigns,  and  wh^t 
was  a  facrifice  of  infinitely  more  value— the  life  of 
the  immortal  VVOLFE-— this  certainly  required  a. 
degree  of  magnanimity,  beyond  the  ordinary  reach, 
and  thcexertionof  the  higheft  abilities  of  every  kind. 

The  command  and  condud:  of  an  army,  v/ere  but 
Imall  parts  of  this  undertaking.  ^The  Indians  were 
to  be  treated  with,  retrained  and  kept  in.  temper,. 
The  Canadians  were  likewifc  to  be  managed,  pro- 
tected and  lupported  ;  And  even  his  own  army  in 
fome  degree  to  be  formed,  diiciplined,  animated j,^ 
accuftomed  to  marches,  incanipments,  dangers,  fa- 
tigues and  the  frcquept  want  of  neceflaries^ 

Camps,  of  all  wordly  fcencs,  often  exhibit  the 
grcatefl  piftures  of  diftrefs.  Th^  fick  and  the 
wounded— the  dying  and  the  dead— as  well  as  the 
•wants  and  fufftrings  of  the  living— all"  thefc  call: 
forth  the  moft  tender  feelings,  and  require  of  a 
General  that,  to.  the  courage  of  a  loldier,  he/hould 
unite  the  utmoft  benevolence  of  a  man  !.  Que; 


f        20       > 

Our  Genera.1  poffefled  thefe  united  qualities  irt 
their  highcftliiftre  ^  of  which  there  are  numerous 
teftimoniesnot  only  from  his  own  army,  but  from 
the  prifoners,  Englifli  as  well  as  Canadians,'  now 
amop.trft  us. 

When  his  men  laboured  under  fatigue,  wanted 
bread  and  other  neceilaries,  had  their  beds  to  make 
in  fnow  or  deep  moraffes,  they  were  a^Tiamed  to 
complain,  finding  that  he  was  willing  to  ihare  in 
the  execution  of  whatever  he  commanded.  And 
the  example  which  he  thus  fee  to  others,  did  more 
to  infpire  patience,  obedience,  love  of  order  and 
difcipline,  than  the  moil  rigid  exercife  of  power 
tould  have  done.  The  influence  of  this  example 
was  dill  ftronger,  as  it  did  not  appear  to  be  the  ef- 
fed:  of  conftraint  or  political  necefiity  ;  but  the 
amiable  expreffion  of  afympathizingfoul  ;  leading 
him  to  condefcend  to  aH  capacities ;  exad  in  his 
own  duties,  and  great  even  in  common  things. 
His  letters,  confidential  and  official,  are  a  full  proof 
of  this. 

V*  Our  incampment  is  fo  fvvampy,  I  feel,  fays  he 
''exceedingly  for  the  troops;  and  provifions  fo 
*-*  fcarce,  it  will  require  not  only  difpatch,  but  good 
*'  fortune,  to  keep  us  from  diftrefs.  Should  things 
**  not  go  well,  I  tremble  for  the  fate  of  the  poor 
'*  Canadians,  who  have  ventured  (o  much.  What 
''  fhall  I  do  with  them,.(hould  I  be  obliged  to 
*'  evacuate  this  country  ?  I  have  afrured  them  that 
"  the  United  Colonies  will  as  foon  give  up  Mafla- 
^'  chuletts  to  refentment  as  them." 

^  Thefe  lentiments  were  worthy  of  a  heroic  foul, 
^nd  of  th«  faith  he  bad  pledged  to  thofc  people. 

iN'or 


(     ^o     ) 

Nor  IS  he  Icfs  to  be  venerated  for  his  tender  regard 
towards  his  own  army,  Inftcad  of  making  a  merit 
of  his  difficulties  fwhich  were  indeed  more  than 
ought  to  be  mentioned  in  this  place)  he  often  fceks 
to  conceal  them  ;  afcribing  any  little  faults  or  tar- 
dmels,  in  his  young  troops,  to  their  want  of  cxpe^ 
ncnce  in  forming  •  to  their  hard  duty,  the  conftant 
lucceffion  of  bad  weather  and  the  like- -ftilj  en- 
couraging them  to  nobler  efforts  in  future.  And 
if  any  impatience  of  difcipline  appeared,  he  nobly 
attributed  it  to  «  that  fpirit  of  freedom,  which 
«  men  accuftomcd  to  think  for  themfelves,  will 
«'  even  bnng  into  camps  with  them." 

His  own  fuperior  military  knowledge   he   has 
been  known  to  facrifice  to  the  general  voice,  rather 
than  interrupt  that  union  on  which  fuccefi  depend- 
ed ;  and  when  a  meafure  was  once  refolvcd  upon 
by  the  majority,   however  much  contrary  to  his 
own  advice  and  judgment,  he  magnanimouQy  fup. 
ported  It  with  his  utmofl  vigor;  difdaining  that 
work  of  low  ambition,  which  will  ftrive  to  defeat 
m  the  execution  what  it  could  not  dired:  in  planin^-, 
Hi5  pcrfcrverance  and  condudl  in  gaining  pofl 
ieffion  of  St.  John's   and  Montreal,  have  already 
been  the  theme  of  every  tongue,  and  need  not  be 
mentioned  in  this  place  His  abilities  in  ncgociation; 
the  precifion   with   which    the  various   articles  of 
treaties  and  capitulations  are  cxprefTed  ;  the  gene-.^ 
rmisapplaufc  he  gives,   not  only  to  every   worthy 
effort  of  his  own  officers,  but  to  the  Commanding 
Officer  and  garrifon of  St.  John's;  his  noble  dccla- 
ration  to  the  inhabitants  of  Montreal,  <<   that  the 
*^  Continental  Armies  defpife  every  afl:  of  opprcf- 


(    3'     ) 

« {ion  and  violence,  being  come  for  the   exprefs 

I*'  purpofe  oJgiving  liberty  and  fccurity" — all  thefc 

|I  lay,  did  honor  to  himfelf,  and  to  that  delegated 

jbody,  under  whofe  authority  he  adted. 

I     Leaving  him,  therefore   for    a   while-— alas  too 

'fhort  a  while— to  enjoy  the  nobleft  of  all  triumphs, 

'the  applaufc  of  his  country,  and  the  confcious  tef- 

timony  of  his  own  heart,  let  us  enquire  after  another 

;band  of  brave  and  hardy  men  who   are    ftcmming 

rapid  rivers,  -  afceoding    pathlcfs  mountains  ;    tra- 

!  verfing  unpeopled  deferts  ;  and  haftening  through 

deep  moraffes  and  gloomy  woods  to  meet  him  ia 

fccnes  of  another  ilTuc — 

""^-Dejerts  171  vain 
Opposed  their  courfe,  and  deep  rapacious  floeds^ 
And  mountains  in  'ivhofejaws  dejlrudiion  grin'd^ 
Hunger  and  toil—ArmenianJnows  and  jiorms  \ 
Greece  in  their  vieiv  and  glory  yet  untouch* d^ 
^ihey  held  their  feariefs  way — O  !  jirength  of  mind 
Almo^  almighty  in  fevere  extrefnes  \ 
Thispraife  v^as  paid  to  ten  thoufand  heroes,  (\y(- 
taining  every  danger,  in  a  retreat  to  their  own  coun- 
try, and  is  certainly  due,  fo  far  as  heroifm  is  con- 
cerned, to  lefs  than  a  tenth   part  of  the    number, 
marching  through  equal  difficulties  againft  the  ca- 
pital ofahoftile  country. 

Even  the  march  of  Hannibal  over  the  Alps,  (o 
much  celebrated  in  hiftory,  allowing  for  the  dif- 
parity  of  numbers,  has  nothing  in  it  of  fupcrior 
merit,  to  the  m^rch  of  Arnold  ;  and  in  many  cir- 
cumftances  there  is  a  moft  ftriking  fimilitude. 

The  former  had  to  encounter  the  rapid  Kenne- 
beck,  thro*  an  immenfc  length  of  country.    The 

former 


r  32  ) 

former  when  he  came  to  quit  the  river,  found  his 
further  paffage  barred  by  mountains,  rearing  their 
fnowy  crefls  to  the  fky,  rugged,  wfld,  uncultivated. 
This  was  alfo  the  cafe  wuh  the  latter,  whofe 
troops,  carrying  their  boats  and  baggage^  v^ere 
obliged  to  crois  and  recrols  the  fanrie  mountains 
fundry  times.  At  the  loot  of  the  mountains,  the 
former  was  deferted  by  three  thouland  of  his 
army,  defponding  at  the  length  of  the  way,  and  ter- 
rified at  the  hideous  view  of  thoie  fiupendous 
heights,  which  they  coniidered  as  impaffable — In 
like  circumltances,  about  a  third  part  of  the  army 
of  the  latter,  delerted  iliall  l^fay,  or  uie  the  more 
courteous  language  **  ret4.irntd  home.*'  The  march 
of  the  former  was  about  twelve  hundred  miles  iu 
five  months.  The  Virginia  and  PeDniylvania  rifle- 
companies,  belongjng  tu  the  latter,  including-  their 
firit  march  from  thtir  own  habitations  to  Cam- 
bridge, and  thence  to  Quebec,  marched  near  the 
fame  diftance  in  about  three  months. 

Be  fides  thefe  rips  companies,  Arnold's  corps  confified 
cf  about  500  New  England  troops,  who  Jujlained  ad 
the  fatigues  of  tkeworjipartojthe  march  by  land  and 
watery  "with  the  utmoji fortitude.  And  General  Mont'm 
gomery^  'ever  ready  to  do  ju(iice  to  merit,,  having 
joined  them  before  ShiebeCy  gives  their  commander  and  • 
them  this  chara^er, 

"  'I hey  are  an  exceeding  fine  body  cf  men^  inured  to 
^^Jaiigue^  with  a  fiyle  of  dfcipHne  among,  them  much 
*'  fuperior  to  "what  I  have  been  ufed  to  fee  this  cam-- 
^'  paign.  He  \himfelf  is  aciivc^  initlligcnty  and 
y  enter  prizing^ 

llavin-F  ap'Prodcbedthfe  plains  'which  the  blood  cf 
'      '  JVQLFE 


(  33  ; 

WOLF E  hath  confecraied  to  decitblefi  fame^  our  her 9 
Jeemed  emulous  of  his  glory ^  and  animated  with  a  kin'' 
dred  fpirif,  The  Jit  nation  of  his  army  prejjed  dtj patch! 
fjiows  andfrofls  only  quickened  his  motions.  He  hoped 
by  one  fucceiful  jlroke^  before  the  arrival  ojfuccours  to 
the  garrifon,  to  complcat  hi^plan^  andfave  the  future 
cffulion  of  tnuch  blood,  Hejurtber  flattered  himfelf^ 
that  his  fiiCfefsy  if  Ipeedy^  might  have  fome  influence 
upon  Parliament^  in  b aliening  a  reconciliation.  He 
under  flood  that  maxim  of  Folard—^'"  No  obflacle  Jhsuld 
break  our  refolution^  %vhen  there  is  but  a  moment  be- 
tween a  bad  fituation  and  a  worfe'' — This  fentiment 
he  exprefl^i-s  in  his  lafi  letter^  wi^b  a  fpirit  of  -modedy^ 
and  a  fenfe  of  duty,  as  ij$ell  as  the  danger  attending 
it,  which  ought  to  be  forever  recorded  to  his  glory.  *'  / 
«'  fl^all  be  jorry  to  be  reduced  to  this  mode  of  attack ; 
<'  becaufe  I  know  the  melavuholy  confequences.  But 
<*  the  approachi?2g  feverity  of  the  feaf'on,  the  weaknefs 
*'  of  the  garrifon,  together  with  the  nature  of  the 
*'  works ^  point  it  out  too  flrong  to  be  paffed  by.  For-- 
'*  tune  often  baflfes  the  mefl  f anguine  expa  Bat  ions  of 
*^  poor  mortals— I  am  not  intoxi(^ated  with  the  favours 
"  I  have  received  at  her  hands.     But  I  think   there 


^^  is  a  fair  profpeB  ofjuccefsj' 


Poor  mortals  indeed,  if  nothing  was  to' remain  of 
them  after  death  5  for  while  he  was  courting  this  fuc'^ 
cefsy  and  glorioufly  leading  on  his  troops  in  the  front 
of  danger,  he  received  the  fatal  droke,  which  in  an 
inflant  releafed  his  great  fpirit,  to  follow  and  join  the 
immortal  fpirit  of  WOLFE !  ' 

O  thou  fwift  winged  mefenger  of  deflruElion,  how 
didfi  thou  triumph  in  that  moment  I  the  (Iroke  that 
fever' d  Montgomery  J rom  his  army^  deprived  them  of 

E  viore 


r  34  ) 

fnore  than  a  member.  It  reached  the  vitdls^  andjlruck 
the  wh^le  body  with  a  temporary  death,  A% 
'when  the  forked  lightnings  darting  thro'  the  forreji, 
amid  the  black  tempeHs  oj  nighty  rends  fome  towering 
cak^  and  lay^  its  lonurs  in  the  dufi^  the  inferior  trees 
which  it  had  long  (helteredjrQm  the  fl or m^Ji and  mourn ^. 
Jul  around^  Jo  Jtocd  the  ajtcnijloed  band  over  their  fah 
len  Chieftan  I  nor  over  him  alone  ;  but  over  others^ 
in  their  prime  cf  glory\  pro/irate  by  his  fide  ! 

Here,  ye  Pennfylvanian  youths,  fecond  to  none 
in  virtue,  let  a  pordon  of  your  tears  be  facred  to 
the  manes  of  Macpherfon !  You  remember  his^ 
generous  fpirit  in  his  early  years,  for  he  drank  of 
the  lame  fprings  of  fcience  with  many  of  you  now 
before  me  j  and  wc  who  reached  the  cup  to  yonr 
lip,  rejoice  that  it  contributed  to  invigorate  both 
him  and  you  into  wifdom  and  p'^blic  (pirit..  Hav-. 
ing  finilhed  his  fcolaftic  education,  he  ftudicd  the- 
laws  of  his  country,  under  a  lawyer  and  a  patriot 
ofdiftinguiflied  name;  and  animated  by  his  exam- 
ple, as  well  as  precepts,  had  become  eminent  ii> 
his  profeiTion,  at  an  age  when  fome  have  Icarce- 
begun  to  think  of  bulinefs.  The  love  of  liberty 
being  his  ruling  paflion,  he  thought  it  his  duty  in 
the  prcfent  ftruggle,  to  offer  himielf  to  the  fervice- 
of  his  country,  and  he  had  foon  an  opportunity  of 
attaining  that  military  pre-eminence,,  of  which,  h^c 
was  laudably  ambitious. 

Enjoying  a  hereditary  bravery,  joined  to  a  well 
cultivated  underftanding,  and  an  adive  ipirit,  he 
foon  bqcame  the  bofom.  friend  of  General  Montgo-. 
mery,  was  his  Aid  de  ca::ip,  was  entrufted  with  a 
fliarc  ii\  the  management  of  his  mofl  important  ne-. 


C    35     ).      , 

gocmtions,  flood   by    his  fide  in   the  attack  upoit 

Quebec,  and  being,  as  it  were,  animated  by  one 
common  foul,  and  dear  to  each  other  in  life — in  . 
death,  they  were  not  a  moment  divided  ! 

Here  likewife  fell  Captain  Cheefman,  of  the 
New-York  forces,  covered  with  honor,  and  la- 
mented by  all  who  knev^  him,  as  an  aftivc  and 
gallant  officer.  His  paticular  merits,  as  well  as  the 
merits  of  fome  others,  who  fliared  his  fate,  ought 
to  be  more  fully  commemorated  on  this  occafion, 
if  proper  accounts  of  them  could  be  coliedted. 

1  muft  not,  however,  omit  the  name  of  the 
brave  Captain  Hendricks,  who  commanded  one  of 
the  Penniylvania  rifle  companies,  and  was  known 
to  me  from  his  infancy.  He  was  indeed  prodigal 
of  his  life,  and  courted  danger  out  of  his  tour  of 
duty.  The  command  of  the  guard  belonged  to 
him,  on  the  morning  of  the  attak ;  but  he  folicit- 
ed  and  obtained  leave  to  take  a  more  confpicuous 
poft^  and  having  led  his  men  through  the  barrier, 
where  his  comnianding  officer.  General  Arnold, 
was  wounded,  he  long  fuftained  the  fire  of  the 
garrifon  with  unfhaken  firmnefs,  tillatlafl:^  receiv- 
i^ig  a  fhot  in   his   bread,  he   immediately  expired. 

Such  examples  of  magnanimity,  filled  even   ad- 

verfaries  with  veneration  and   efteem.     Forgetting 

the  foes  in    the  hexoes,  they  gathered  up   their 

breatiilefs  rcmains^and  committed  them  to  kit^dred 

dufl,  with  pious  hands,  '*  and  funeral  honors  meet.'* 

So  may  your  own  remains,  and  particularly  thine, 

O   Carlton,  be   honored,  (hould   it  ever  be  your 

fate  to  fall  in  hoftile  fields  !    Or  if  amid  the  various 

chaiic^s  of  wafj  your  lot  foould  be  among  the  pri- 
..  .__     .    ..  _ _„    ._  lonesSb 


(  36  ) 
foners  and  the  wounded,  may  you  be  diftmguiOied 
with  an  ample  return  of  that  benevolence  which 
you  have  iliev^'n  to  othen.  Such  oiSces  of  hurna- 
fiity,  foftening  the  ;{avni>e  fcenea  o^  war,  vvill  en- 
title you  to  an  honor  which  all  the  pride  of  con- 
quefl:  cannot  beftow,  much  lefs  a  conqueft  ovqv 
kllow  fubieds,  contending  for  the  common  rights 
of  freemen. 

Having  now  paid  the  honours  due  to  the  me- 
mories of  our  departed  friends,  what  need  I  add 
more  ?  Illuftriou?,  although  fhorr^  was  their  race  ! 
*'  But  old  aee  is  not  that  vs^hich  P:andeth  h\  lenfnh 
of  tiir.e,  nor  is.  meafured  by  number  of  years— 
wifdom  is  the  grey  hair  to  man,  aiid  an  uhfpotted 
life  is  old  age." 

To  iuch  men,  P.ome  in  all  her  glory  would  have 
decreed  ho:iors;  and  the  fcfolve  of  Congrefs,  to 
tranfniit  the  niemory  of  their  virtues,  is  worthy  of 
that  m.agnaiiiiiiivy  which  cght  tochara(ftcrize  pub- 
lic bodies.  Jealous  and  arbitrary  rulers  are  fparing 
of  honors  tothofe  who  fcjve  them,  left  their  own  ^ 
ihould  be  thus  eclipfed.  But  your  luftre,  gentle- 
men, can  fufFer  no  dimanition  this  way  •  and  the 
glcry  you  judly  beftow  upon  others,  will  only  be 
rcfleded  to  encreafe  your  own  ! 

FINIS. 


-^.  ^Mf . 


ift^^j  jj,^     i>Si 


